Fan favourite will trigger a bumper pay-day for himself when he reaches a certain number of appearances - and the club don't want that to happen

Jonas bother: Gutierrez has played for just an hour this season (Photo: Alex Livesey)

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Jonas Gutierrez is heading for the Newcastle exit door – due to a clause in his contract that triggers a new deal once he has made a set number of appearances, writes Alan Oliver in the Sunday People .

The Toon fans’ favourite, who has played 193 matches since joining in 2008, has a contract at St James’ Park until 2015.

However, Sunday People Sport can reveal that if he plays a certain number of matches – undisclosed by the club – then the Argentina star bags a bumper new deal.

Newcastle, though, do not want that to happen – which could explain why the winger has played just 63 minutes this season with his double-century of appearances agonisingly close.

He has scored just 10 times in 177 league appearances for the Magpies and despite his outstanding work rate, boss Alan Pardew will listen to offers when the transfer window opens.

Pardew has also frozen out fellow fans’ favourite Steven Taylor.

Neither player has started a Premier League game since the opening day 4-0 mauling by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Both were back in the dressing room before half-time that day for different reasons – Taylor for his red card and Gutierrez as the sacrifice for the more defensive Vurnon Anita.

And while the first-team squad were travelling last Friday for the game at Crystal Palace, Gutierrez and Taylor suffered the ignominy of playing for the Newcastle Under-21 side.

Gutierrez also knows he will have to play regular Premier League football if he is to have a chance of making Argentina’s squad for the World Cup in Brazil.